I've had this bag for a few years now, and just got it replaced for free due a faulty stitching that came apart (I wouldn't have even bothered if I hadn't been in the store and they said they could swap it out).
Overall I love this bag, it's just a wee bit heavy on its own (about 3 lbs) if you're trying to travel light.
I was looking for an everyday bag and found it again at Peak Design ! So much pockets, so tough and classy look. Since I live in Morocco, I had it delivered by a friend and I'm using it every time I travel.
I researched for weeks a backpack for travel and stumbled across the Zip. I have always loved the Everyday Packpack, but for my needs it was too big. The zip is perfect and what I was looking for. I love it's design, the midnight color and it's accessibility on both sides of the pack. It is a solid design and full of pockets and features for your gear. It feels great on, no pressure points. I can't wait to take it on it's "maiden" voyage in July.
I bought the small 15l for travel with photo gear, bottle of water, raincoat and stuff you carry with you all day visiting. Great backpack big enough for all my stuff. Thanks.
I’ve owned the black 15L bag for nine months. I bought it to replace a basic Timbuk2 backpack for everyday use and travel. It’s accompanied me on domestic and international trips, many grocery runs, many miles by bike, large festivals, trips to the office, conferences, and other uses.
Overall I do recommend it. The materials are high quality and the design is thoughtful, as one would expect from PD. The structure is sturdy and the components are durable. The ability to strap things on the outside of the bag works really well. The grab handles on the top and sides are very comfortable and sturdy, making it a good option for carrying it for long periods of time vs wearing it. The webbing is like that of a seatbelt strap - high quality. The zipper design is a lifesaver when you’re in tight quarters (like sitting in coach) and need to grab something that’s in the bottom of the bag. The shoulder straps that are on a rivet so they pivot. All of these kinds of features add up to a bag that’s functional and versatile.
Things I don’t love / think could be improved: - It needs a strap retention solution. The webbing flies and flutters when you’re doing something like riding a bike. - The material pretty much always has a “dusty” look to it. It’s hard to describe, but even when I received the bag new I noticed this. For example, every time I put it under the seat in front of me in an airplane, it comes out with a bunch of white powdery looking stuff on it that requires some significant wiping to get clean. For this reason, the bag lends itself to a more utilitarian look, instead of the svelte aesthetic I was personally after. - The sternum strap clip is metal and this can be slightly dangerous. It has whacked me in the head more than once and it really hurts. If you sling the bag around to take a seat in a tight airplane or bus for example, you could easily hit someone and if you caught them somewhere like an eye or a tooth it could actually hurt someone. It does clip onto the strap when not in use but it will inevitably come loose and just dangle, so you have to be mindful. - I don’t use the individual dividers. It’s fine in theory but at least for the 15L version and the things I carry, that level of organization is overkill. - While the straps are great for external carry, I would LOVE to see PD release some kind of cargo carry product, like a mesh or bungie netting that attaches to the external sewn loops. This would greatly increase the carry capacity and take the functionality of the bag to the next level. - The key carry system is a gimmick to me. Personally ,just give me a normal key loop sewn to the bag somewhere.
I own bags from the likes of Deuter, Gregory, Osprey, and Timbuk2, and while they all have their place, I do think PD does enough to set themselves apart for urban and travel use. I’ve used the bag heavily and have been impressed. From the looks of it, it will continue to roll me for the next few years at least.
As a 5’5” lady, the 15L size sits really well on my back. Perfect! I wish the straps were thicker (like the everyday backpack) and more cushioned. And I wish the bag itself could be lighter. I don’t love the inner compartment, the dividers or the Velcro everywhere. I’d rather a smooth finish and maybe an extra pocket or two. I’ll be using this for work, so as others have said, it would be better to have a book/paper friendly option. I love the look - couldn’t decide between grey or bone, but the bone was too lovely. Still, wish it had a little texture/pattern so the color wasn’t so monotonous. If you made this backpack in a wide variety of colors, I think it would easily become a best-seller. It would look so good in heathered colors (green, orange, rose)… !! I bought two to see the colors, and there are differences among them - one has a really tight handle, one doesn’t; one has a really tight back pocket and one doesn’t… so the complaints people have mentioned are there, but not consistently. It’s not the design as much as the manufacturing, etc. Overall wonderful quality and sharp looking! Appreciate the weatherproof quality too!!! I think I’ll really like my 15L as long as I can keep it clean!!
I bought this backpack just recently and I’m in love with it. I think I’ll be using this bag for almost every travel (up to 3-4 weeks). Highly recommend peak designs products. I love their eco system.